Navigating the Global Pandemic in Pediatric Overweight and Obesity: Emerging Challenges and Proposed Solutions

• Published in: Maternal and child health journal 2024-12, Vol.28 (12), p.2001-2005
• Main Authors: Hennekens, Charles H., Sherling, Dawn Harris, Caceres, Alicia, Benson, Katerina, Rubenstein, Alexandra, Ferris, Allison H., Kitsantas, Panagiota, Wood, Sarah K.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescents; Children; Commentary; Diabetes; Gynecology; Heart attacks; Hypertension; Interdisciplinary aspects; Malnutrition; Maternal and Child Health; Medical personnel; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Metabolic disorders; Metabolic syndrome; Myocardial infarction; Obesity; Overweight; Pandemics; Pediatrics; Population Economics; Poverty; Public Health; Sociology; Trends
• ISSN: 1092-7875; 1573-6628; 1573-6628
• DOI: 10.1007/s10995-024-04001-6

Background Since 1990, childhood overweight and obesity have been rising on every continent and have almost doubled worldwide. The deleterious consequences include hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidemia leading to metabolic syndrome in childhood and myocardial infarction, stroke, cancer and other disabling conditions in adulthood. Purpose In Southern Europe, including Greece, Italy, and Spain, 10 to 15% of children are obese. Obesity in Eastern European countries is somewhat lower, but the rates of rise are very steep and will approach those in Southern Europe during the next few years. Worldwide, Asia accounts for nearly half of all overweight children under the age of 5, while Africa is home to one quarter of overweight children under 5. In Latin America, about 20% of children under 20 are overweight. Further, children living in poverty can suffer simultaneous overweight and obesity as well as malnutrition. In the US, the risk of being overweight in adolescence is several times higher when a younger child has a body mass index (BMI) in the 50th or greater percentile. Findings If the clinical, non-clinical and public health communities ignore these challenges, such inaction will surely portend an unprecedented future pandemic of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents leading to future premature morbidity and mortality. All clinical, non-clinical and public health professionals should exert concerted efforts concerning their individual patients, their families, communities, and policymakers. Conclusions Such coordinated interdisciplinary efforts may curb these alarming trends and secure healthier futures for children and their families throughout the world. Significance Pediatric overweight and obesity are emerging as a pandemic and cause hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidemia leading to metabolic syndrome. In adults, these conditions markedly increase risks of myocardial infarction and stroke as well as liver disease, obstructive sleep apnea, arthritis, and certain cancers, all of which are increasing at younger ages. This commentary contains challenges and potential solutions to clinical, non-clinical and public health professionals to increase efforts with their individual patients, families, communities, and policymakers. Exerting concerted interdisciplinary efforts may curb these alarming trends and secure healthier futures for children and their families throughout the world.